This latest entry in the series is following what has become an all too familiar pattern: long on musings by the characters and short on actual detection. Mma Ramotswe has to find the beneficiary of a legacy, and, I am afraid to say, she actually messes that up. There must be a rule in the Principles of Private Detection that would tell her to show the photograph of the benefactor to the prospective heir before promising him the legacy. Everything is satisfactorily resolved more by serendipity than by Mma Ramotswe's skills. Still enjoyable, but the standards are falling.

By far, this was the slowest book I've listened/read in a long time. I felt that McCall Smith was writing because he had to get this next book completed, but didn't have enough to write about, so belabored every thought each character was thinking. Also, the story was way too predictable. The long wait for this book ended up being a sad disappointment.

Anyone else tired of Grace Makutsi. I am very tired of her rudeness and impetuousness and hypocritical nature. And I am tired of her running all over Precious. This character is the only fly in the ointment of this wonderful series.

Every book in Andrew McCall Smith'sThe First Ladies Detective Agency isBrilliant ! I prefer to listen to the15 books on Audible because the artist who does all of the voices is gifted! Her name is Lisette Lecat. She is beyond amazing ! Don't see the series on HBO;listen to the first few, if not all in order. The characters develop (eg get married ). The author is a teaching physician in Scotland (a lawyer too) mostly as he says, he is a serial novelist . He never disappoints!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Double Comfort Safari Club to be better than the print version?

I can't imagine just reading this series. It would be like reading plays--you get the gist and can even appreciate wonderful writing, but the words don't really come to life until you hear them performed, especially in this series since there are a lot of words in a language most of us don't hear spoken very often. I find that when those words appear in print, they interrupt the story since I want to stop and figure them out, but when Ms. Lecat reads them, they add to rhythm and flow to the narrative.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not exactly an "edge of the seat" series, but in this one there was a nice little twist that I hadn't expected.

What about Lisette Lecat’s performance did you like?

She is always remarkable in this series,so much so that she is integral to my enjoyment of the stories, but my favorite narrations are ones in which she gets to show her acting chops like this one. She can do subtle shifts in accents as well as obvious differences, so the careful listener gets clues before the print reader does. She must read the books & make a chart of pertinent traits of each new character; I'd love to hear her talk about her process.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes,the resolution of the heir mystery.

Any additional comments?

A hopefully helpful hint: I adore listening to these books but I find the pace of narration a bit slower than I like. Discovering that I could listen at 1.25x speed has made them close to perfect.

If you could sum up The Double Comfort Safari Club in three words, what would they be?

Double Good Listening!!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Each character is so well developed. I wish I could meet them in person. In this book Mma Grace Makutsi. Without giving away the plot, I admire her strength and her vulnerability in this story. It is difficult to choose a favorite among characters I would love to know as friends. I would love to go shoe shopping with Grace, we have the same love of shoes. I wonder if she has the same love of purses as I?

What does Lisette Lecat bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

OH MY!!!! She brings EVERYTHING !!!! She breathes the life of Botswana into every word. Her accent, her expressions, and the ability to change between characters makes one think there are more than one narrator. She has a wonderful talent in relating the story and bringing it to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, because it is like a wonderful dessert. It would be gone all too soon. Though I do worry about the characters "in between listenings" : )

Any additional comments?

I am very sad that I am so near the end of the series. I guarantee, you will find yourself wanting to visit Botswana by the end of the first book, and looking for travel information by the end of the last!!!